Vision gives you a goal to work towards
When I started out, there were only about 20 graphic novels in my library. But I knew how much my students loved them and the power they had to increase literacy. I had a dream to have an entire section of my library dedicated to them. I worked hard to make this happen. I created wishlists. I asked students what they wanted. I made DonorChoose projects. I wrote grants. I set aside part of my collection development money every year. And now, this is the most popular section of my library. Students make a beeline for this section when they come in. During picture day one year, the photographers stacked up some of our furniture in this corner to make room. My students were physically climbing over and through the tables just to get at these books.
Vision helps you to share your ideas
My current passion is to transform the tables area of my library into a collaborative Makerspace. I have been talking to vendors, cutting out pictures of things I want to see, writing grants for Maker books, new furniture, supplies, etc. I’m dreaming big and I’m sharing this dream with everyone I meet. I mentioned the other day about how sharing my dream helped us out – the media center now has six tubs of K’nex. We’ve been able to start a K’nex club in the media center, which is getting kids even more excited for what comes next. I know that a lot of my ideas won’t happen right away, but I’m continuing to dream and pursue the vision I have for my media center.
Vision helps keep cynicism at bay
With so many negative changes all around us, it can be easy to fall into a pit of despair. There are so many things that are wrong in the education world today, so many circumstances in children’s lives that are heart breaking, and so many negative colleagues who complain that change isn’t possible. We need to focus on the positive changes that we can make, rather than concentrating on what we cannot control.
Having a vision is more than just writing a statement – it’s a constant reminder of what your passions are and what dreams you are pursuing.
You have to dream big. You have to keep sharing that dream with everyone you meet. And gradually eventually, maybe not in the way that you planned it, those visions can become reality.